Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Misconception about ISLAM - 3

Allah - Who is Allah?

Muslims believe that Allah alone is the Lord, the Creator and the Provider of the entire universe. Muslims also believe that Allah alone, and no one else, is worthy of worship. The primary Islamic belief is that "There is no one worthy of worship other than Allah and Muhammad is his messenger".

Allah says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning):

"He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything.

Such is Allah, your Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakeel (Trustee, Disposer of affairs or Guardian) over all things"[Al-Anaam 6:101-102]

Allah has 99 names that reflect His attributes. Muslims believe that Allah revealed all holy books such as the Torah, Bible (Injeel) and the Final word of God (Allah), called the Quran. Allah revealed the Quran in 23 years over prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Muslims also believe (through Allah's revelation on his messengers) that Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were all His prophets and messengers. They were regular human beings and while Allah did bestow upon them the ability to demonstrate certain limited miracles, they were only His Messengers.

About Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in 570 AD in the city of Makkah, Saudi-Arabia

His father, Abdullah, had died several weeks before his birth in the city now known as Al-Madinah, Saudi-Arabia

His mother died when he was six years old

He was raised by his paternal grand father Abdul-Muttalib and then later by his Uncle, Abu Talib

Long before granting the role of a prophet by Allah, Muhammad was popularly known as Sadiq (Truthful) and Al-Ameen (someone who can be trusted with people's trusts).

His first marriage (before prophethood) was at age 25 when he married to Khadijah, a rich widow who was 40 years of age.

At the age of 40, he was granted to be the final prophet by Allah. Allah started to reveal His final book through the Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel in Arabic), the Quran on prophet Muhammad at that time. The first verses revealed were the following:

"Recite in the name of your Lord who created! He created man from that which clings. Recite; and thy Lord is most Bountiful, He who has taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not." - Quran (Chapter 96)

Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years on prophet Muhammad (saws)

The mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon hime) was to get people at large to understand so that they may believe One True God (Allah), the Creator and sustainer of the universe, as taught by Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and all other Prophets of God including Jesus, Moses, David and more. His mission was also to demonstrate and preach the laws of moral, ethical, legal, social conduct and matters of significance for the humanity at large.